Dr. Valent on Ongoing Research With Immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma

Jason Valent, MD, an oncologist at Cleveland Clinic, discusses ongoing research with immunotherapy, specifically checkpoint inhibitors, in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

Although trials with checkpoint inhibitors were halted in 2017 due to safety concerns, some trials since reopened, says Valent. The accrual for a study examining the use of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in combination with daratumumab (Darzalex) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst) (NCT02431208) slowed when trials with immunotherapy were halted, but the study has since reopened and is planned to move forward.

The efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in multiple myeloma has yet to be fully understood, explains Valent. However, there is a strong rationale for combining these agents with daratumumab. If some of the immune protection provided to the malignant cell can be eliminated with a checkpoint inhibitor, a drug like daratumumab may be better able to stimulate the immune system and induce greater responses, explains Valent.